Bean-cleaning machine



Dec. 24, 1929. s. w. MARTIN 1,740,933

BEAN CLEANING MACHINE .Filed July 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorngy Dec. 24, 1929.

G. w. MARTIN 1,740,933

BEAN CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attarn 'qy Inventor Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEAN-CLEANING MACHINE Application filed July 17, 1928. Serial No. 293,366.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for cleaning beans and has for its object the provision of a device for use in the removal of all adobe and other matter of a soluble nature from various kinds of dry beans. The invention is characterized by its simplicity of construction and operation and the eflicient and inexpensive manner in which all characters of dry beans may be properly cleaned from foreign matter so that the same can be placed upon the market in a clean and sanitary condition.

Other objects will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the

same comprising the novel form, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accome panying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine,

Figure 2 is a slightly enlarged vertical transverse section through the machine taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and looking toward the left of the figure,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the fluid discharge pipes,

Figure 4 is a detail transverse section thereof, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the frame structure of one of the foraminous belt rollers disclosing the preferred type of adjustable bearing provided for the opposite end thereof.

Now having particular reference to the drawings my novel machine consists of a suitable frame structure 5 preferably of angle bar formation and of rectangular shape as illustrated in Figure 1. This frame 5 includes among other structural elements a longitudinal frame bar 6-6 adjacent the top 5 side thereof and at opposite ends of the frame which bars are equipped with suitable shaft bearings 7-7.

Arranged in the said bearings are the ends of roller shafts 8-8 that extend transversely of the machine and that are equipped with suitable sized rollers 9-9 which are in longitudinally spaced relation as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The bearings 7 of one of the roller shafts are longitudinally adjustable with respect to the frame bars 6 as generally indicated by the reference character 10 so that this particular roller may be moved toward or away from its coacting roller in an obvious manner.

Trained around these rollers 9-9 is an endless belt 11 of wire screening or other suitable foraminous material while directly in back of the rear end of the belt, and the adjacent roller 9 is a bean seed hopper 12. Beneath these rollers 9-9 and spaced a greater distance apart than said rollers 9-9 are similar rollers 13-13, the shafts of which are journaled within suitable bearings supported by members of the frame structure 5.

The rear roller shaft is mounted within a longitudinally slidably adjustable bearing designated generally in Figures 1 and 5 by the reference character 15, this adjustable bearing being also provided in order to enable the rearmost roller 13 to be moved towards or away from the coacting roller 13.

Trained around these rollers is an endless belt 16 of screening or other suitable foraminous material. The adjacent runs of the belts 11 and 16 being in slight spaced relation with respect to each other as illustrated in Figure 1. The upper run of the lower belt 16 extends beneath the hopper 12 so that the beans dropping therefrom will pass upon this run of the belt. Any suitable means is provided for causing the movement of the belt in the same direction, said means consisting of pulleys or the like arranged upon the ends of certain of the roller shafts as indicated in Figure 1.

Obviously the beans falling upon the upper run of the lower belt will be moved toward the left of the machine and in Figure 1 whereupon they will be caught between the adjacent runs of the belt and be prevented 95 from passing laterally and falling from the belt.

Arranged at one side of the machine frame 5 and slightly above the lower run of the upper belt 11 is a water manifold 17, water 100 or other cleaning fluid being supplied thereto under pressure. Leading laterally from this manifold and extending horizontally above the lower run of the upper belt 11 are discharge pipes 18, the inner ends thereof being equipped with suitable cut off valves 19.

Each pipe 18 consists of an inner and outer pipe length 20 and 21 interconnected at their ends by suitable fittings 2222. These pipes are provided with two or more lon itudinally extending slots 20 and 21' who slots are at the bottom of the pipe and when in registration will permit the fluid from the manifold 17 to discharge therefrom directly onto the lower run of the upper belt and passing therethrough to engage the means. between the belts so as to thoroughly clean the same of all adobe and other soluble matter.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a highly novel, simple, and extremely useful bean cleaning machine that is well adapted for all the purposes heretofore designated.

Even though I have herein shown and described the invention as consisting of certain detail structural elements, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without effecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a machine for cleaning beans comprising an endless foraminous belt, a second endless foraminous belt arranged in superposed relation to the first belt and terminating short of one end thereof, a bean receiving hopper arranged at one end of the upper belt and directly over the uppermost run of the lower belt and the end thereof projecting beyond the upper belt, a manifold extending longitudinally of said belt at one side thereof, and a plurality of transversely extending discharge pipes communicating with the manifold and arranged in relatively close proximity to the lowermost run of the upper belt.

2. A machine for cleaning beans comprising a frame, an endless upper foraminous belt carried by said frame adjacent to the upper end thereof, a lower endless foraminous belt carried by said frame, of greater length than the upper belt and extending beyond one end v thereof an appreciable distance, the belts having their upper and lower runs arranged in superimposed relation and in relatively close proximity to one another, a bean receiving hopper arranged adjacent to one end of the frame above the projecting end of the lower belt for discharging beans on the upper run of said lower belt, and means carried by the frame for adjusting the tension of said belts, whereby the runs of the belts can be ad usted relative to one another.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE WV. MARTIN. 

